My young nephew Daniel has a debate going with his father, my brother
Pete. Daniel’s favorite toy is “Purpley”, a stuffed animal.
The controversy is over whether this stuffy is a bear
or a cat? From the front, Purpley seems to be a bear
but on the back, he has a very cat-like tail. Daniel was
very interested in seeing photos on this blog and agreed to pose
with Purpley for photos to put this important family matter to a vote.
What do you think? Is Purpley a bear or a cat? Comments
are welcome.
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Images Copyright 2008 by Katy Dickinson
KatysBlog 
The spot over his left eye seems Cat-like. My first instinct is to say Cat. However, he has several stereotypical teddy-bear features.
Thus, it seems likely to me that Purpley is, in fact, a bear-cat hybrid. Either ‘Bat’ or ‘Care’ would be appropriate.
Obviously, it is a bearcat.
We had a teddy bear with big ears that we called the big-eared bear. One day, I read the tag, which said "Lafayette Mouse". So it became the mousebear.
I think Purpley is his own person and his own species!
July 19,2008 Me and my brother Daniel (he owns purpley) thinks purpley is a cat.
Whatever he is, he looks totally cuddly! I wish I had one of these.
Ursine characteristics included rounded ears, not pointed (Daniel protests that he has chewed down the ears somemaking making postive id more difficult), stubby body and back legs, upright posture.
On the other hand, the elongated tail raises questions – perhaps some inbreding is involved. . . .
Webster says: bear – large heavy mammals having long shaggy hair, rudimentary tail and plantigrade feet.
cat – a carnivorous mammal long domesticated and kept by man as a pet or for catching rates and mice.
no bearcats. Sorry Cincinnati fans
Maybe Purplely is a Binturong (Arctictis binturong), also called a Bearcat. See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binturong
which grew up purple?